Norma’s story: peace in the garden

Norma’s story: peace in the garden

Norma is her husband's primary carer, who lives with Parkinson’s disease. Due to his poor mobility, he relies on a wheelchair and requires significant physical support from Norma in his day-to-day life. Getting around with a wheelchair isn’t always easy and finding accessible activities and places to visit in the local area can be challenging.

Over time, Norma found herself unable to leave her husband for extended periods. This had a significant impact on her own life, as well as her mental health and wellbeing. The demands of her caring role left her feeling frustrated and isolated, with little opportunity to take a break or focus on her own needs.

Recognising the importance of supporting her own wellbeing, Norma applied for a Time to Live microgrant. She used the funding to refurbish her garden, purchasing a bistro set and firepit to create a comfortable and relaxing outdoor space at home. As her garden enjoys sunshine throughout much of the day, she felt this would provide the perfect place to unwind. For Norma, taking a holiday away from home did not feel like a realistic option. She felt she would struggle to relax properly because of her caring responsibilities and would worry about being away from her husband. Instead, having a space close to home where she could enjoy short breaks throughout the day felt like a much better solution.

“The garden area is cleared up, and we can both enjoy sitting outside. At night, we can sit together and chat by the firepit with our blankets, which is relaxing for us both. During the day, when we enjoy the sun, I can read or do some puzzles, and we can eat lunch and dinner together outside, if the weather permits.”

The garden has become a valuable space for both Norma and her husband. It allows them to spend quality time together in a peaceful setting, while also giving Norma opportunities to enjoy activities she finds relaxing. Norma also found that being able to take breaks at home helped to ease feelings of worry and guilt that she previously experienced when leaving her husband.

The garden has also become an important social space. Norma now feels she has more opportunities to enjoy life outside of her caring role, welcoming friends and family to spend time with her.

Find out more about Time to Live here.